Patrick is a Ugandan Entrepreneur, acclaimed film maker and Ad-man, whose company Xibra, markets mobile platform solutions and provides creative communication services.
He has worked with leading brands like Google, MTN Uganda and South African Tourism Board. Patrick's writing brings a fresh new perspective to Technology, marketing and secrets to success
This blog is inspired by the numerous walks he take to the kiosk (Duuka).

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Why it is important to empower children living with special needs with IT skills

Last week I
run a PR campaign for KiBO foundation which had partnered with Cisco to provide IT training to five special needs schools within Kampala. The training I
attended was at Mulago School of the deaf.As the
children followed the instructors sign language as he demonstrated how excel
sheet works, I could tell how excited they all were to be using a computer. I
could relate, It is the same enthusiasm
I too had when I was first introduced to a computer in the fourth grade.Looking at
the bigger picture, these children now have a competitive advantage in the
working world because of the skills they now possess. Often people with special
needs are marginalized and reduced to blue collar jobs. However in the 21st
century, a computer is the big equalizer that provides equal opportunities for
all.Some
counties like south Africa have tapped into the potential from this group of
people. Like deaf people are highly sought after to man CCTV cameras because
they are likely to be more attentive than their peers who aren't living with
special needs.While
filming the clip, I stumbled into another class by accident. The children were
chatting each other up in sign language and it was a humbling moment when I
realized that they were just as cheeky, playful and happy as normal children
their age. The sad part however is, because of their condition, they are likely
to have many of their dreams crushed because they do not fit into societies
definition of 'normal' which by all measures is not fair to them and us because
we are denying ourselves potential brilliant ideas.Everyone is
born with the ability to change the world, case in point, Steve Hawkins. We
must let ourselves see beyond the superficial body makeup to truly see each
other for who we really are and technology is playing an important role in
creating equal opportunities.